Malicious Intent Read Free Page B

beads and pray a lot” kind of vows.’
    Anya had read about the case in the papers. ‘The nun with the double life.’
    ‘That’s her. The stuff tabloid dreams are made of. She disappeared two months before her death. Went to work and never came home. Next thing she is found dead, all done up.’
    Kate looked around the busy café and lowered her voice. ‘And that’s not all; she was six weeks pregnant.’
    ‘Priests don’t have the monopoly on sex scandals,’ Anya mockingly whispered. ‘Nuns have been known to have sex!’
    ‘Funny. But for added drama, this woman tried to claw her own ears off before taking the plunge.’
    Anya had to admit the scenario was bizarre, but there may have been a logical explanation. ‘What did the coroner say?’
    ‘He returned an open finding. He says it is probable she threw herself off the cliff, but there isn’t enough evidence to support the finding.’
    ‘I’m tutoring at the institute tomorrow.’ Anya smiled. ‘I’ll see what I can find out about the autopsy – unofficially, of course.’ She lifted a notebook from her handbag. ‘I’ll ask Peter Latham to dig out the file. What’s her name?’
    Kate drained her coffee.
    ‘Matthews with two Ts. Clare Matthews.’

    2
    Anya entered the histology lab at the State Forensic Institute and placed her briefcase beside one of the benches. From a side room came the voice of the institute’s director and the unmistakable sneezes of Derek, a technician who continued to work in the department despite an allergy to the preservative chemical.
    Anya popped her head into their room. Derek sat encased in a white bodysuit, his face hidden beneath a mask with a personal ventilation system as he sliced pathology specimens.
    Beside him at a microscope was Peter Latham. Like so many pathologists, Peter had unique fashion sense. Today he’d chosen his favorite paisley tie, pale yellow shirt and dark green trousers – a stark contrast to the blue surgical scrubs he wore most days. For court appearances, he liked to formalize his outfit with a brown corduroy jacket.
    ‘Need a second opinion?’ Anya asked.
    Peter looked up and grinned through a salt-and-pepper beard.
    ‘Anya, come in. We’ll be just a minute.’
    Derek muffled ‘Hello’ and made his usual joke about being an alien under the mask.
    The shelves around the room contained jars of specimens 14
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    marked with Peter’s name for reporting. There were more specimens than usual. He had either fallen behind or taken on the extra cases when Anya resigned. It wasn’t in his nature to delegate to the already overworked staff.
    After dictating into a hand-held tape recorder, Peter placed a slide back into its cardboard folder. ‘How does it feel to be back?’
    ‘I’m only here to tutor.’ Anya thought she sounded defensive and forced a cheerful tone. ‘Teaching pays better than legal aid.’
    ‘You’re just going through a lean time; a settling-in period,’
    he said softly.
    ‘I only wish you were right.’
    ‘Give it time. You’ve only been at it a few months.’ Peter removed his glasses and began to clean the lenses with the end of his tie. ‘Anyway, an acquittal in the Barker case would establish your reputation. You’ll be turning down referrals before long.’
    Dan Brody had been supportive, but more government forensic employees were using their rights to private practice, which meant stiff competition for the only freelance woman in the field.
    Peter held his glasses up to the light. ‘How’s my favorite godson?’
    Anya smiled. ‘Ben’s doing well. Thanks again for the train set. He absolutely loves it.’
    Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed an Amazonian figure enter the lab with a couple of books clutched under one arm. Sneakers scuffing on the tiled floor announced her arrival as she flicked a long plait from her shoulder. Anya could easily imagine this woman dominating a sporting arena such as a hockey field.
    Peter was quick